backup Jan26 THE FIRST US & UK jan 31

Just to note at the I have learned to send emails w/o all addresses being in the copy column. This was suggested to prevent internecine warfare amongst the factions within my mailing list--2 economists 3 opinions. Or is that Jews? How many opinions do two Jewish economists have? Anyway I have expanded the list by adding in groups of  addresses so if you cannot figure out why you are receiving this drivel, or getting it twice--forgive me.

I am sitting at my computer in the midst of a "once in a century Washington snow blizzard"; its my third since 1997,so I should be good till 23rd century. Two feet of snow stops everything and deadens all external sound. Give's me a state of peace if not grace. Today  I have watched  Spurs beat Crystal Palace ,West Ham draw with Man. City and look forward to Arsenal dropping 2/3 points tomorrow. As long as have electric  power I can watch 5/6 premiership games + the NFL divisional finals .Even read a book! Actually got a biography of Tottenham  Hotspurs and a history of Ottoman /German diplomacy on the go. Spurs doing better than the Turks but they[the Turks] had a long  run--pity[for them] they lost Arabia and the Gulf just before all that oil was discovered and  it  was nicked[developed] by the British in Persia  and then Saudi; and by the French in a place called Iraq which theretofore had not existed.

But I digress from my intent to respond to the enormous demand from my vast international, intelligent and perspicacious readership; both of whom have insisted that I break my vow of silence and regale them with my thoughts on the two Bernards and President Trump. I had promised to give Jeremy Bernard Corbyn ,six months grace before commenting but he and the party of my birthright may not last long enough for the brilliance of my comments to illuminate the discourse ;and President Trump may be all but  inaugurated before we  gather ourselves to stop the madness.

  In the USA ,

                  can it be that we will have an all new York race. Between

      1] a narcissistic German ,whose father was a supporter of the KKK and a member of the John Birch Society--the KKK sans hoods--and whose grandfather ,Adolph [ he was born before Hitler but the name association is too bizarre not to notice] , made his fortune "renting" properties for Brothels in the West. The father was investigated by the  Senate and the Justice department for racial bias in renting apartments in New York and for war profiteering. I know, I know the sins of the father should not  burden the child but....! All this is now leavened by adding the intellectual genius and generosity of spirit brought in by Sarah Palin.

   

    And 2]  an old fashioned Bundist  Yiddle whose father was a tailor. My dad would have known an Inzera [one of us]  and  a comrade and would have loved him. Just to confirm Bernie is nothing like Bernard[Corbyn].He has a significant track record as a Mayor, Congressman and Senator .He is an intelligent man who has significantly influenced policy from health care to banking and consistently opposed American adventurism while improving benefits for veterans. Bernie fits very neatly into the soft left of the party we grew up in/on. Strong on unions, free health care and education, civil/personal  rights and never an apologist for Putin or , in the day ,the Soviet Union.

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   So perhaps an unelectable Jewish Socialist vs an unelectable  German Fascist. "Only in America".

  ps. as you know I do not use terms like "fascist" lightly  but a racist, wanting to bring in Industrialists to run the government and economy, wants to unleash the military on all and sundry enemies , proposes to expel Mexicans w/o due process ,plays fast and loose with personal finances  and whose bully boys screen everybody going into his meetings and throw out any hecklers who sneaked through ,seems to fit the bill.

Hilary's surrogates are already[desperately] using "Socialist" as an "unelectable" slur.

Of course, as my father and I would sadly agree Bernie is unelectable in the USA system of the electoral college. My kind of unelectable progressive. Regrettably Hillary while progressive on children and women's issues, has a very conservative record on economics, banking and taxation; and like Bill has been very "careful' on social issues. Joe Biden ,where are you when we need you? Still despite everything, Hillary offers a genuine and credible alternative to the Republicans

     In the UK:

            You have of course read my dyspeptic views of Jeremy during the leadership election. The confusion and nastiness of his office and inner circle therefore come as no surprise.Jeremy is not as nice as he likes to appear but nor is he a true nasty like Ken ,McDonnell  et al.; but his total inability to control any of it means he approves or is totally incompetent.

   but the greater disaster for the party is his idiotic incompetence in putting over reasonable arguments for plausible radical policies. Or  effectively giving any substantive voice in opposition to a reactionary, incompetent and DIVIDED government.

    The Trident example is beyond parody. There are perfectly reasonable arguments  for opposing the  third leg of an independent  British nuclear deterrent-- effectiveness, necessity, cost, diversion from other military priorities or from non military priorities. 

But opposing in principle and then suggesting it be built as a make work program but not arm it , is both idiotic and immoral. Then getting embroiled in a debate on whether Labour policy could be changed before  a parliamentary vote and then perhaps by a poll of party members takes us to a level of sophomoric imbecility even I could not have imagined.

     

     Of course these sideshows of internecine warfare and idiotic policy pronouncements and    processes , distract from the real need for changes within the party. In reality ,I fear that       the Corbyn distraction hides a deeper  malady. A party whose "main stream" leadership        can produce  a report exonerating the  Miliband leadership; which has lost the Scottish          heartland ; has no coherent view on ethnic divisions or faith schools; no clear commitment    to a Keynesian economic policy; no unity on Brexit or not ,and on what democratic and          economic changes are needed in the EU ; or a practical strategy for housing ;and on ; has
   no credible  claim on being a  government beyond  "we are not the Tories".

  Nor can we take solace in the common sense and practicality of the Trades Unions.Without a sensible trades union  movement there is no Labour party ,no matter what the odd Blairite may dream. I have found writing this Labour pary bit rather a downer --sorry.

   

    Still  can west Ham make the top four ,Arsenal finish second and could Chelsea be relegated ? We live in hope on all fronts.

   ps This Macri guy in Argentina seems sane, Evita must be turning in her grave.